Indian protesters seek end to sexual violence against women

Indian women shout slogans during a protest gathering organised by a non governmental organization to condemn violence against women in Dharmsala, India, Sunday, April 15, 2018. Violent crimes against women have been on the rise in India despite tough laws enacted in 2013. Placard in Hindi reads, ''We will protest- We will demand accountability", center top and " Enough, we will now not tolerate violent men", bottom, right. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

NEW DELHI (AP) — Thousands of people protested across India on Sunday to seek an end to sexual violence against women, which has been on the rise in the country.

Carrying banners and placards, protesters marched in New Delhi, Mumbai and other cities, demanding that India's government quickly prosecute rape suspects. Candlelight vigils were also held in some places.

The outrage was triggered by the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir and the abduction and rape of a teenage girl in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state.

Lawyers participate in a candle light procession in protest against the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl, in Jammu, India, Saturday, April 14, 2018. The girl was grazing her family's ponies in the forests of the Himalayan foothills when she was kidnapped and her mutilated body found in the woods a week later. Thousands of members of a radical Hindu group with links to the ruling party have marched to demand the release of six men accused in the repeated rape and murder of the Muslim girl inside a Hindu temple. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Many protesters expressed particular anger at India's ruling Hindu nationalist party for initially siding with the accused in the Kashmir case. The young victim was a Muslim and the accused are Hindus.

A total of at least nine suspects, including a lawmaker from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and four police officials, have been arrested in the two cases.

Lawyers participate in a protest against the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl, in Jammu, India, Saturday, April 14, 2018. The girl was grazing her family's ponies in the forests of the Himalayan foothills when she was kidnapped and her mutilated body found in the woods a week later. Thousands of members of a radical Hindu group with links to the ruling party have marched to demand the release of six men accused in the repeated rape and murder of the Muslim girl inside a Hindu temple. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Violent crime against women has been on the rise in India despite tough laws enacted in 2013. In 2012, the fatal gang rape of a young woman in New Delhi triggered massive protests by hundreds of thousands to demand stricter rape laws in the country.

The outrage over the New Delhi attack spurred quick action on legislation doubling prison terms for rapists to 20 years and criminalizing voyeurism, stalking and the trafficking of women. Indian lawmakers also voted to lower to 16 from 18 the age at which a person can be tried as an adult for heinous crimes.

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